Improvement in padlocks



inited tatca ToLnERT LANsToN, or wAsanvdToN, DISTRICT or ooLUMBm Lamm Patent No. 100,644, dazed .ifm-ch s, 1ero.'

IMPROVEMENT IN PADLOGKS.

The Schedulereferre to in these Letters Patent and making part of the lim.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, loLBnuT LA xs'rox, of Washington, in tlie'county of VVashiugtou, and District of Columbia, `have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Padlocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ot the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a. part of this specification, and to the letters and iguresbf reference marked thereon.`

'Figure l, of the drawings, is a representation of my invention with one thee' removed, to show the internal construction.'

Figure 2.is a similar view, the bolt being shot.

Figures 3', 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are details.

My invention relates to padloeks, and consists mainly in the construction of the tumblers and wards, vandthe arrangement of' the bolt and pivoted case, designed to form a strongand convenient padlock, simple of construction, and ditlicult to be picked.

The ease A is formed in two parts, pivoted together at the central' point by the pine. f

The bolt B forms a.- palt of the upper portion of `the section C of the case, and isarrauged iu such a manner that when the lock is uufastened, its upper surface will fill the space left by the parting ot' the. walls of sections O and D of the case.

The triangular spaces made by theparting in the sides `of the ease above the pivot a are closed by thin extensions ofthe plates forming the sides -f the seetion D, which slide in,corresponding*depressions iu the sides ofthe section C. -l

lfrom the upper cornersoi' the case project the l rigid jaws b b, which meet above the centerof the lock, and form the clasp thereof, by means of which it is attached to the staple. A tenon is formed on 4the end of'eilher jaw, to correspond with a mortise in the other.

When the loekis fastened, by lbringing thel jaws together, the seetionsG and D 'pass below the pivot, and exhibit an angular space between. x,

The sections of the ease are fastened together 'by a binge-joint encircling the pin a, from which point the walls extend downward until they turnlat the bottom to form the curved wall ofthe ease.`

The upper edge ofthe bolt B is curved, correspondf ing to thebend ip the upper portion ot' the all of the section D, and"` is consequently held iirnily in position at all times.

It is evident that the bolt cannotbe moved upward to unlock. This operation is, therefore, accomplished by drawing the' tumblers H H downward, until their heads clear the catch ofthe bolt. f

The action of the compressing-spring.e upon the parted walls of the case below the` pivot will cause the lock at once to ily open and drop from the staple, the jaws b b unclasping at their central point of j unction. A

H H designate the tnmblers, pressed upward against tbe"bolt by the action of the separate springs n 511,.

and arranged to move indepcndeutlyof each other. They are secured iu place by the pins operating .in the slots s and by the staple G, mortised upon the tenons in both sides o f the section D of the ease, or forming aportiou ot either side, and secured to the other by mortise and tenen.A

The pin t keeps the tnmblers froln movinghorizontally, and thereby interfering with the action ot the bolt.`

Between the tnmblers are placed the slotted sliding plates lr h, which serve to keep the tulnblers at the proper distance apart.

K designates the inner casing, within which the tumblers slide. It is secured to the side of the case, and provided with a partition, i', which divides the tnmblers from the wards. Y

lhe perpendicular rows of teeth r c form the wards.

llhese teeth Vproject horizontally toward the key-hole,

and each ot' them is made Ysimilar in shape and size to the teeth c' r of the tumblers, which project b ctween theteeth ot' the wards, through the. slots ZI in the partition c'.

The teeth fro' have different horizontal positions, and as they are the only means provided for operating the tnmblersthe projections y ou the key must correspond iurelative position.

It .will readily be perceived that the lock cannot be opened until all the tumblers are drawn dpwn.' This arrangement, togetherwith the multiplicity of similar teeth presented, is designed to prevent the lock from being picked. Y

rlhe pin upon which the key turns is marked I.

A small plate, f, pivoted at its base, and opera-tedby a spring, in..

When the key is introduced, it passes down between the projections un of this little plate, which, therefore, turns with it in unlocking. But the nio- .ment the key is released, after the operation, it is returned by the spring plate to its original position opposite the key-hole, through which it can be at once drawn.

As an additional security against picking, the lower portion of `the ease K may be extended over the springs n to the wall of the lock.

lVhat I claim as-my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. The sectional ease herein described, hinged at or near -its center, arranged to operate by the spring e, and having the jaws b b and hook B, forming a part thereof', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2, In combination with the casing K, having wards c fr, the single-acting tnmblers H, provided with teeth r, alrauged at diierent heights, and similar to the teeth le-ot' the wards, as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have here unto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: TOLBERT LANSTON.

E. M. ANDERSON, D. D. KANn. 

